Renovating a full-height basement can add value and extra living space to your house. Even if you don't have a full basement or aren't planning any basement improvements, the foundation of the house is the most important consideration in any renovation. The foundation supports the structure above it and resists the pressure of the soil around it. Fixing any foundation problems before you renovate is essential to preserve the durability and structure of your home
Common Situations
The foundation for your house may be a full-height basement, a crawl space, a slab-on-grade foundation or even a combination of two or more types. Foundation materials include poured concrete, unit masonry, stone and preserved wood. Each type of foundation or material has its own associated problems.
The most common problems related to structure or soil conditions are:
- Cracks in slabs, walls or footings;
- Crumbling mortar or concrete;
- Unstable or weak soils;
- Uneven settlement;
- Warped or bowed foundation walls;
- Adfreezing (frozen soil sticking to the foundation and lifting it) or frost heaving;
- Low ceiling height;
- Inadequate support of the main floor system;
- Soil gas or radon infiltration;
- Odours or generally poor indoor air quality (IAQ);
- High humidity;
- Pest infestation.
Healthy Housing
Renovating is an ideal time to make your house healthier for you, the community and the environment. When assessing your renovation project, be sure to consider the five essentials of Healthy Housing.
House as a System
A house is much more than just four walls and a roof-it's an interactive system made up of many components including the basic structure, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, the external environment and the occupants. Each component influences the performance of the entire system. Renovation is an opportunity to improve the performance of your house.
Without a sound foundation, problems are inevitable. If problems with the foundation exist, they will often affect other parts of the building. Problems that you discover in the basement should be remedied before any other renovation work.
Avoid Surprises
Before you start any renovation, take some time to think about your foundation. Evaluate it carefully to make sure it's in good shape and can accommodate your renovation plans. Here are some of the likely situations that people encounter. However, it's always wise to consider hiring a qualified professional such as an engineer, architect or professional renovator to assess the structural issues.
Rewards - Fixing foundation structural problems will help greatly to ensure the continued safety and durability of your home.
- Other planned renovations are much more likely to be successful when they are based on a sound foundation.
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Skills to Do the Job A handy homeowner can patch small, unchanging cracks or other minor concrete problems, deploy a radon test kit or deal with minor pest problems. A skilled homeowner can attempt repairs to large, unchanging cracks or undertake a thorough air sealing project. Professional help is essential for: - Assessing and correcting changing cracks.
- Lowering floors and underpinning or reinforcing foundations.
- Adjusting structural elements.
- Assessing loads and structural capacity.
- Correcting adfreezing and frost heaving problems.
- Correcting major pest infestations.
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Use the Basement Assessment Worksheet to help you assess problems and set priorities for your basement repairs.
| Basement Assessment Worksheet |
| Problem and Location | Possible Cause | Options | Help Required | Estimated Cost |
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Costing Your Project
Fixing foundation problems can be expensive. Use the above checklist to help you assess your options and costs. The cost of essential repairs will depend on varying conditions, such as:
Existing foundation.
Access to problem areas.
Amount of work required outside,-below-grade.
Extent of proposed renovations.
Professional help needed,
*Source CMHC
